Feeling some financial pain? Turn your old stuff into cash!
When your bank balance is heading towards rock-bottom or you have a pile of bills to pay, it’s normal to feel some financial stress. Sometimes that stress can be pretty overwhelming, leaving you with a sense of despondency. It can make you lose focus, which in turn means it’s hard to find a solution, even if it’s right there before your very eyes.
If that sounds a bit like you right now, don’t worry - the solution may be closer to home than you expect. It’s time to turn your trash into someone else’s treasure - here’s how!
Online selling
The rise of e-commerce has given massive opportunities for both buyers and sellers. But if you think that online stores are only for new products, think again. Facebook’s Marketplace is a great place to start selling online – it has a high level of traffic and creating a listing is fast and free. You can also advertise on Gumtree and eBay.
You can sell just about anything on these sites – from your unused sports equipment, garden tools, old clothes, appliances and books – most of your stuff will probably have value for someone else.
Garage sale
A good old garage sale never goes out of style. In fact, it’s a fabulous way to declutter and get rid of the stuff you no longer use or need - and make some extra money at the same time. But it requires a little bit of planning and strategy to get the best results. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Allocate time for sorting out the items you want to sell
- Pick the date wisely – obviously weekends are best
- Advertise (think flyers, invite friends, post on social media, promote on Facebook Marketplace.). Don’t forget to include your start and finish times so you don’t have people banging on your door before you’re ready to start selling
- Clean the items for sale
- Set the price - follow the principle “not too low, not too high”
- Make your garage layout attractive
- Create a nice ambience (have some background music playing, light some scented candles or get some coffee bubbling to create an inviting aroma)
Local classified ads
Here’s another great way to sell your stuff for free. It’s like the e-commerce sites but without any third party involved, and there are many classified ad sites in Australia. Many of them are free to use, so it’s an excellent opportunity to sell when you’re under some financial stress. Check your local community paper, and you can also list in Gumtree, Trading Post, Craigslist, Locanto, and Ad Post.
Tips for successfully selling your old or unused stuff
Now that you get the idea of how to make money out of your old or unused stuff, it’s time to make a success of it. Here are some tips to ensure you get people to buy your goods:
- Describe your item correctly and detail its real condition | If it’s a piece of old furniture, state if it has scratches or dents. If it’s old clothing, say how many times you’ve worn it, and so on. Never try to pretend it’s something it’s not so you can avoid returns.
- Make the photos attractive | Ensure that your items are clean and well prepared. Use a white background when taking the photos, as it’s easier for people to focus on the item itself, instead of whatever could be in the background of your shot.
- Choose the right site if you’re selling online | Check the terms and conditions first before posting your items. Make sure the platform you sell on offers payment options suitable for your needs. Check customer reviews and previous experiences.
- Be responsive to messages | Whether it’s through the platform’s messaging system or your phone, make sure you respond promptly. Delayed responses turn off customers, so ensure that your notifications are turned on.
- Sell for a reasonable price | While you want to make a good amount of cash from selling, making the price too high won’t attract any buyers. On the other hand, if you sell too low, you’re not optimising your sale, so make sure you do some research first and see what other similar items are selling for.
- Trade carefully | Generally, you should expect your buyer to come to your place to pick up the goods, or you can sell further afield if you offer postage. Just make sure you see the cash upfront before you post or hand over your sale items.
It’s time to start selling!
As you can see, you can always make money from selling your old or unused stuff. But if you need cash urgently, we’re here to help. Just take a look at our cash loans to $5,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, the cash is usually in your bank account within a few hours – so you don’t have to feel that financial stress anymore.